Thrills on the Global stage with Hong Kong for much-travelled cricketer Matt Jones

Matt played with Wickersley as a junior and a senior before making a new life for himself abroad, first in Doha and then in Hong Kong.

And it was his appearaces in league cricket there that led to him being selected for Hong Kong for the inaugural Over-40s Global World Cup.

The tournament was played across venues in Karachi, Pakistan, including the national stadium.

Matt competed against players schooled in first class domestic cricket as well as former test players, especially in the Pakistan team which included Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and the captain, Misbah-ul-Haq.

Australia, West Indies, USA, Canada, Napal the UAE made up the rest of the eight nations.

After an initial Round Robin stage in which all the teams played each other, Hong Kong just missed out in a play-off for fifth place, beaten by the West Indies in the final over. Nevertheless the Rotherham man, a former pupil at Wickersley School, emerged with some fantastic memories.

"It was fantastic to be chosen to represent Hong Kong,” said Matt. “It’s been a once-in-a-lifeime opportunity to play at international level against such talented players and in some great venues.”

Matt, who has lived in Hong Kong for six years, even got to commentate on a couple of the games on Pakistan TV and You Tube.

Following the action from afar were proud parents Steve and Pam.

"It’s been like a dream for us as well to be honest, watching him on the TV when he’s been playing, and listening to him commentating,” said Steve.

“Everything has been top notch – the accommodation, the facilities and the hospitality showed to them.

"It’s funny, but when they found out Matt was a Yorkshireman their first question was: do you know Geoff Boycott? It’s a bit like Australia. You live 200 miles from somebody and they expect you to be their neighbour.”

An all-rounder normally, Matt was primarily a bowler in the tournament, which was won by the host country.

He has opened the bowling for Hong Kong but the pitches in Pakistan aren’t suited to seamers like him.

"The majority of the wickets were taken by spin bowlers,” added Steve.

"Matt is a seamer but the wickets out there are just dead. It has negated him a bit but he has still done OK.”

After leaving university, Matt lived for a time in Newbury and scored more than 4,000 runs and took 320 wickets for Didcot CC.

It was work which took him to Doha, where he played league cricket and where the temperatures were so hot that matches that matches had to start at 6am in the morning. He has been in Hong Kong six years leading into his call-up.

Added Steve: "Matt will been the first to admit it’s been a learning curve, even at 47, competing against the players he has. Playing at the national stadium in Pakistan, not many people from Wickersley can say that.

"We are so proud of him.”